Improvement in methods of detecting and extinguishing fires



. n. W. Howns METHOD 0F DETECTING AND EXTINGUIS'HIN'G FIRES, 8 c. No.184,380. Patented. Nov.14,1876.

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DANIEL W. HOWES, OF EAST DENNIS, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN METHODS OF DETECTING AND EXTINGUISHING FIRES, &c.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 184,380, dated November14, 1876; application filed June 26, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL W. HowEs, of East Dennis, in the county ofBarnstable and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and ImprovedMethod of Detecting and Extinguishing Fires and Preventing SpontaneousCombustion in Ships, &c., of which the following is a specification Myinvention is mainly intended for application to ships; but it is alsouseful in warehouses and the like, where goods are commonly stored, soas to prevent access for inspection and afford protection.

It consists of a method of communication from the deck of the vessel, orfrom any one floor of the warehouse, with all the compartments of theship or warehouse, and with different parts of the compartments, ifnecessary, by which air or gas may be either sent down into thecompartments or brought out therefrom at will, thus enabling thedetection of fire by the smell of the out-going vapor, or by itsappearance to the sight; also enabling the extinguishing of the fire byintroducing carbonic-acid gas, or other extinguishing matter, andpreventing spontaneous combustion by causing the gases generating in thehold to escape.

The apparatus for carrying out the invention may consist of a system ofpipes extending throughout the ship or warehouse in all requireddirections, branching from one inlet and outlet, and being suitablyperforated to discharge or receive the vapors into and from any part ofthe structure, together with a fan or other blower, contrived either forblowing in, or exhausting from, the pipe, and also with a gas-holder tobe charged with gas or other material, for extinguishing the fire, andbeing so connected with said pipe that the gas or other extinguishingmaterial may flow or be forced into the ship or other structure; but Ido not limit myself to the pipes, for hollow perforated walls'of thestructure may be used instead, and the contrivance may be otherwisemodified.

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a section of a shipwith contrivance for carrying out my invention. Fig. 2 is a transversesection.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents a system of finely-perforated pipes branching 011' from aconducting-pipe, B, in different directions and through difi'erout partsof the vessel, some being directly over the decks and bottom, and othersdirectly under the deck. 0 is a fan-blower; D, a holder forextinguishing substance; E, pipe connecting the holder with the fan, andF a pipe for discharging from the fan, or admitting air into it, as maybe required.

To determine the condition of the hold, or any other interior part ofthe vessel, the cock in the pipe E, connecting the extinguishingholderwith the fan, will be closed, the cock in the pipe F opened, and the fanset in motion in the direction for exhausting from the pipes A, whichwill exhaust the smoke from any part, or any air or vapor having thesmell of fire in case there is no smoke, also any dangerous gases, suchas are generated in a cargo of coal, so that spontaneous combustion willbe prevented, and if fire occurs in that or any other way it will beinstantly detected.

Incase of fire the cock in pipe F will be closed, the one in pipe Eopened, and the fan will be set in motion the opposite way to force downthe substance for extinguishing the fire. I

The perforations G in the pipes A will increase in size as theirdistance increases from the conducting-pipe, to equalize thedistribution of the vapors.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. The method of detecting and extinguishing fires byutilizing the same system ofpipes leading from the forcing apparatus tothe various compartments of a ship or warehouse, both for the exhaustionof the air for the detection of the fire, and for the forcing in ofcarbonic-acid gas for extinguishing the same, substantially asdescribed.

2. The fire-extinguishing apparatus for vessels and warehouses,consisting of a series of perforated distributing-pipes, A,conductingpipe B, fan-blower G, holder D for the fire-extinguishing gasor substance, and the pipe E, all combined as shown to operate in themanner set forth.

DANIEL W. HOWES.

Witnesses:

T. B. MOSHER, ALEx. F. RoBER'rs.

